A Fresh Start

My_Lil_Revolution

Hi Guys

I have recently been inspired by a diary and have now decided that I need to give myself and my DD a fresh start, get out of debt and be happy!

So I am classing today as my LBM. I have already worked out all my debts and as of today the total is £9118.19. A little bit more than I thought but I am giving myself two years to get this sorted.

A little bit about me, I am single, I rent a lovely house and have a great job. I also have a wonderful DD who understands that money isn't on that tree in the back garden.

I realised this morning that I had my first NSD yesterday. I usually shop once a week but I have a freezer full of meat so I am thinking that I need to start working my way through all that so that I can batch cook and that will fit in there. I am just wondering if I will be better just buying what I need when I need it. I have £40.00 allocated each week for shopping oh and I have a spreadsheet that I am in love with. I check this every evening against my bank statement (tips I have picked up on here as a long time luker lol)!

I have one credit card at £773.37 but this is not earning any interest as it is closed and with a debt company. I have ignored this one the longest unfortunately.

I have a store card at £1012.97 (29.9% ARP per annum) and this is the one I am going to tackle first. Card destroyed so no more spending on it but it has only been for appliances that were needed to replace broken ones.

I also have a Welcome loan (I know, stupid me) but I have finally got this down to £3135.13 at (12% APR per annum).

The rest is made up of stupid things really and not incurring any interest luckily.

This month has been a bit tight and I do still have some christmas presents to buy but I bought my first one two months ago which is totally unheard of for me. Usually running around a few days before which results in me not really giving much thought to the presents.

So....this diary is to keep me on track, try to put a little away each month for emergencies and get rid of that debt. So I am giving myself until December 2014 and this will hopefully be realistic and not put too much pressure on me. I know the support that you guys give on here is absolutely fantastic so a kick up the backside might be needed and appreciated from time to time.

Hope eveyone has had a lovely evening.

My_Lil_Revolution

Evening all.

Not much to report today and I don't think there will be much progress made on the debt front until after christmas now.

My DD turns 11 tomorrow and this is the first time I haven't bought her loads of presents. As I said before, she is totally understanding that money is a bit tight so isn't expecting a great deal. But....I am feeling really guilty looking at the three presents I have bought her.

She is so excited though as she can open her big girl bank account on Saturday. This means that she gets a cash card. I am going to try and steer her in the right direction with money and hopefully she will never be in the same situation as me. She is quite good and saving but then once she has a bit she does like to go and get new clothes!!

I am still wondering if I should stop with the shopping budget and actually try and manage on £10.00 a day. I have been reading another diary and she is doing so well doing this. I thought that if I didn't spend the tenner or had any change, then this could go into a emergency pot.

At least I still have some money put aside for tomorrow night. We are going out for tea and then she is staying at her dads. Party sleepover on Saturday night with two school friends so I will be on here looking for my sanity lol! I spent £20.00 last night on party bag stuff, wrapping paper, card and some plastic cocktail glasses that she wants pretend cocktails in. Oh so I had to buy some food colouring to go in the lemonde and cocktail umbrellas. So everything ready now apart from a cake.

Wish me luck lol!!

My_Lil_Revolution

Woo hoo, just had an e-mail from my current fuel suppliers saying that because I am a dual fuel customer, they are topping up my electric with £15.00. Now that is £15.00 I can save from this coming pay day.

LondonGirl252

Hi!

I found your diary and will subscribe once I have posted, I love that you are also in love with your spreadsheet! I don't feel a man could compete right now haha!

Have you found the snowball calculator yet? https://www.whatsthecost.com I love playing around working out my DFD depending on how much I pay off each month.

Your DD sounds really sweet and I'm sure she'll appreciate money and learn from you, I hope when I one day maybe possibly have children I can teach them how to be responsible!

How did her sleepover go??? Hope they left you your sanity

My_Lil_Revolution

Hi LondonGirl. What a weekend. Don't know what I was worrying about regarding the presents, she loved them all. I put some banners up around the house too so she was made up with those. We went out for tea (a carvery for £3.50 each) and I took my own cake and then off to her Dad's for the night. Had the two friends over on Saturday, two hours of Guitar Hero later and I had a banging headache lol. They all behaved really well and no noise after the cut off time which was great. All in all I think it was the cheapest party I have ever done for her.

I am glad you sent me that link, I was thinking about looking for that so I can see what my proper DFD date will be. Going over to check your diary out now.

LondonGirl252

Hey!

Sounds lovely! Pleased it all went well and it feels so much better when you realise how much you saved!! Glad she had a nice time.

Yeah its great, I'm always playing on it

girlatplay

Hello :hello:

Just seen your diary and I would like to wish you all the best.

Little Miss Gap turned 11 in October. I have been a single parent for the past 9 years. We have a Mr Gap who now lives with us but he is not LM's dad.

My debt at LBM (early 2007) was around £12,000 and I am looking to become debt free next month.

So, just to say, it can be done. Hard work and determination are the keys. Finally, never give up!

Good luck.

Gap

Erme

LondonGirl252 wrote: »

Hey!

Sounds lovely! Pleased it all went well and it feels so much better when you realise how much you saved!! Glad she had a nice time.

Yeah its great, I'm always playing on it

I found another when trying to recalculate my OD interest this month :j...

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633405/Loan-repayments-calculator.html

I just put in the amount, 1 month payment (full) and the interest rate and it calculated it for me

But I'm like you LondonGirl and love the snowball....

Glad the party went well and was cheap. You can breathe now hun...

How do you do it girlatplay. I thought all tweenies and teenagers were really expensive :rotfl:. Well children full stop LOL

E

MuffinTops

When I was a new teenager there was an issue with money in our house and my parents seemed really hit by it. I remember how worried they were when they sat me down and told me that my birthday wasn't going to be much of a big deal and why. That birthday is honestly one of the best birthdays I ever remember. When cash feels abundant then you tend to buy what you know your child wants. But when it's in limited supply you have to really think about what to get and I realised at that time that my Mum and Dad had made a massive effort for me with the gifts I received. Those presents came more out of love more than out of money, (hopefully you understand what I mean by this) and I have an inkling that maybe your DD felt the same? We all know our parents love us, but that level of effort shows that love in the sort of quantities you can't easily show from day to day.

Oddly enough, I remember that birthday, the gifts I received and the lead up to it, vividly. More so than other birthdays. Brilliant memories.

freshair_2

** subcribes **

Your dd sounds like my ds, and your debt is about the same as mine. so if you don't mind i'd like to join you on your journey, hopefully it might keep me a bit more motivated???:)

My_Lil_Revolution

girlatplay wrote: »

Hello :hello:

Just seen your diary and I would like to wish you all the best.

Little Miss Gap turned 11 in October. I have been a single parent for the past 9 years. We have a Mr Gap who now lives with us but he is not LM's dad.

My debt at LBM (early 2007) was around £12,000 and I am looking to become debt free next month.

So, just to say, it can be done. Hard work and determination are the keys. Finally, never give up!

Good luck.

Gap

Hi Girl At Play. Hopefully a lot of hard work next year and next birthday and christmas will be better.